Pittsburgh Steelers' Cam Heyward has been the backbone of the defense for more than a decade. He has been rewarded for his efforts with a Pro Bowl selection every year since 2017, although some have been as an alternate selection.
Steelers’ defensive captain, Cameron Heyward gets ready to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Pittsburgh, PA. | Credit: Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers
That alternate selection was the case this year as Heyward was snubbed after having a Pro Bowl-worthy season. However, with the Kansas City Chiefs' Chris Jones heading to the Super Bowl, the NFL sent Heyward a text asking if he would come to Las Vegas to participate in this new and improved Pro Bowl format.
Heyward filmed his most recent episode of, Not Just Football With Cam Heyward from his hotel room in Vegas in between activities and was able to share a bit of what his experience has been like with fans and talk up his idea for a new event.
Heyward told his co-host, Hayden Walsh:
"I got the text message at like 12:00 after the conference championship and I look at my phone and it's like 'congrats!' and I'm like congrats on what? I am just home doing my thing. I find out I made the Pro Bowl and asking am I gonna go. I am kinda scrambling now, but yeah I want to be a part of it. It's a great honor and you never know when you're not going to make one of these."
Walsh asked Heyward what he thinks of the new Pro Bowl format this year. He also mentioned how Heyward and his partner Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets did not advance in the water balloon competition. Walsh joked that at least Heyward wasn't responsible for the balloon breaking. Heyward responded:
"I saw Jeff Simmons, he tried to catch the balloon and then it exploded on his face. Glad I didn't have any memes or gifs that had water all over my face. But what do you know, I'm relying on another Jet to do my job and once again it didn't work, so thank you again New York Jets."
Heyward is referring to the Steelers narrowly missing the playoffs this year. They won all the games they needed to at the end, but required the Jets to beat a battered Miami Dolphins team and they didn't.
Out here havin' fun 😄
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) February 3, 2023
📺: 2023 #ProBowlGames on ESPN pic.twitter.com/hmVZyzRaYs
About the new format, Heyward had this to say:
"I think the format's been cool. We've been doing some different things and I think it's just more interactive. More guys are in the spotlight. You see guys like Joel Bitonio catching punts and being able to throw a couple of footballs. You see guys like Tray (Trayvon) Henderson from the Cincinnati Bengals doing pretty well out here."
The NFL is missing out, according to Heyward, on one of the most entertaining possibilities out there.
Steelers' Cam Heyward Presents Big Man Flag Football
He points out that these offensive and defensive linemen are overlooked in games like this. He said it gives these players a chance to showcase their athletic skills:
"Me, TJ [Watt], Tyson [Alulu], [Stephon) Tuitt], in years past, Bud Dupree, we always played walking football in preseason. That was like our warm-up. So why not have that chance to really highlight those guys and show off their athletic ability. It's cool when you get the regular athletes, but when you get to show your bruisers and bulldozers, they would be wildly surprised. Imagine the highlights if you see a guy like Trent Williams going up for a catch."
San Francisco 49ers' Trent Williams
Photo Credit: San Francisco 49ers
They discussed who would be included - offensive and defensive linemen, outside linebackers, and tight ends. Heyward suggests that the tight ends would have to cover the OLB's. Heyward quips that we would see some amazing match-ups, like George Kittle blocking TJ Watt. When asked who would play QB, Heyward had an answer:
"That's the funny thing, you know a guy like TJ Watt played quarterback in high school and I give him a lot of crap for it, but if we're on the same team, I'm feeling pretty good about that situation. You got a guy like Lane Johnson who played quarterback (in college). That's a hidden talent we can take advantage of."
"I think it would be way good to show that the offensive and defensive linemen are not just big powerful guys, they're athletic. There's a lot more going on there than the eye can see. Big man lives matter!"
What do you think? Would you be interested in watching a game like that? What do you think of the new Pro Bowl format? Click to comment below.
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